Cushion underframe railway car hydraulic cushion arrangement



K. J. AUSTGEN CUSHION UNDERFRAME RAILWAY CAR HYDRAULIC June. 27, 1967 CUSHION ARR ANGEMENT Filed June 28, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATT'Y.

June 27, 1967 K. .1. AusTGEN CUSHION UNDERFRAME RAILWAY CAR HYDRAULIC CUSHION ARRANGEMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1965 y lNvE/vToR KENNETH J.AUSTGEN ATT'Y June 27, 1967 K. J. AUSTGEN 3,328,018

. CUSHION UNDERFRAME RAILWAY CAR lHYDRAULIC y CUSHION ARRANGEMENT Filed June 28, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IO P /NvENToR KENNETH J. AUSTGEN @m2211967 K MUSTGEN I 3,328,018

CUSHION v UNDERF'RAME RAILWAY CAR lHYDRAULIC CUSHION ARRANGEMENT Filed June 28, .1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 |||||i *A n mul /NvENToR KENNETH J. AUSTGEN ATT'Y.

United States Patent O 3,328,018 CUSHION UNDERFRAME RAILWAY CAR HYDRAULIC CUSHION ARRANGEMENT Kenneth J. Anstgen, Gritlith, Ind., assignor to Pullman Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed .lune 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,571 6 Claims. (Cl. 267-1) The present invention relates to cushion underframe railway cars and more particularly to a new and improved cushioning arrangement used for interaction between the sliding sill and the underframe of a railway car for providing car body and lading protection.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a cushion arrangement using a hydraulic cushion which is movable in either direction from an extended position to a contracted position to absorb the impact energy applied to the ends of a sliding sill with a return spring arrangement which utilizes a minimum depth of the underframe.

It is a further object to provide a hydraulic cushion device of the aforementioned type with a return spring arrangement which is connected in end to end relationship with the hydraulic cushion device.

It is still a further object to provide a hydraulic cushion device of the aforementioned type with a return spring arrangement which is detachably connected in end to end relationship with a hydraulic cushion device in a manner facilitating the installation and disassembly f the cushioning arrangement from the car body.

Further objects and features will hereinafter appear,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken through the underframe of :a cushioned underframe Vehicle and embodying the cushioned arrangement of the present invention with the component parts of the cushion underframe and cushioning arrangement shown in the neutral position thereof;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the component parts in the contracted energy absorbing position thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the cushioning arrangement disclosing a further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the manner in which the follower guiding attachment of the embodiment of FIG. 3 is fastened to the cylinder of the hydraulic cushion device;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the lines 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6` is a cross sectional View taken generally along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a cushioning device embodying a modified form for attaching the spring guide `attachment to the hydraulic cushion;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the modified form of the follower guiding attachment means used in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the lines 9 9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the lines 10-10 of FIG. 1 and showing one form of the detachable connection between the return spring arrangement and the hydraulic cushion;

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 10 but showing a modifled form of the detachable connection of the return spring arrangement to the cushion device; and

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional View taken generally along the lines 12-12 of FIG. 10.

Referring now to the drawings, in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a typical cushion underframe car construction including a stationary center sill 10 in which there is mounted for slidable movement lengthwise thereof a sliding sill 11. Disposed for interaction between the sliding sill 11 and the stationary sill 10l for providing car body and lading protection is a cushioning arrangement 12.

The stationary center sill 10K may be of substantially standard construction of Z section cross section having an upper horizontal top web 13 from the ends of which there depends downwardly extending vertical Webs 14 having outwardly extending horizontal flanges 16. The sliding sill 11 may also be formed of a channel member of substantially Z section including an upper horizontal web 17 from the respective ends of which there depend vertical side webs 18 having horizontally outwardly extending flanges 19. The sliding sill 11 is supported for lengthwise movement within the stationary center sill 10 by means longitudinally spaced transversely extending members 21 which may be fixed across the flanges 16 of the stationary center sill 10.

The cushion arrangement 12 is disposed in a cushion pocket 22 defined by longitudinally spaced stops 23-23 and 24--24 fixed to the upper horizontal top web 13 and outer flanges 16 of the stationary sill 10. Fixed between the side webs 18 of the sliding sill 11 for movement therewith are longitudinally spaced key members 25. In the neutral position of the stationary center sill 10 and sliding sill 11 as shown in FIG. 1, the stops 23-23 and 24-24 are fixed to the stationary sill 10 and the key members 25 are fixed for movement with the sliding sill 11 in longitudinal alignment.

The cushioning arrangement 12 comprises essentially a hydraulic cushion device 26 having attached to one end thereof a return spring arrangement 27 which serves to return the cushion device 26 from its contracted to neutral positions, as more fully to be explained hereinafter.

The hydraulic cushion unit 26 comprises essentially a hydraulic fluid filled cylinder 28, fluid displacement means 29 which is reciprocal with the cylinder 28 from a neutral to a contracted position for displacing fluid from a high pressure chamber 31 to a low pressure charnber 32, a flexible boot reservoir 33 connected between the cylinder 28 and the fluid displacement means 29l for receiving a portion of the hydraulic fluid displaced during contraction, a metering pin 34 for metering the flow between a high pressure chamber 31 and low pressure chamber 32.

The cylinder 28 may be formed from a cylindrical tube made from steel or the like. Fixed as by welding to one end of the cylinder 28 is a base or follower plate 36. Fixed within the cylinder bore 37 inwardly of the open end thereof as by snap rings is an intermediate cylinder head 38 defining adjacent the open end thereof a boot chamber 39 for accommodating the flexible boot reservoir 33.

The fluid displacement means 29 includes a piston head 41 to which there is fixed one end of a tubular piston rod 42 which extends through an axial opening 43 in the intermediate piston head and defines with the latter an annular passage 44 providing communication between the low pressure chamber 32 and the flexible boot reservoir 33. The piston head 41 defines on one side thereof the cylinder 28, the high pressure chamber 31 and on the opposite side, with the intermediate piston head, the low pressure chamber 32.

The piston head 41 may be formed from a suitable material such as cast iron and the circumference thereof is preferably radially spaced from the inner wall of the cylinder bore 37. Seated within a peripheral groove is a sealing and guide ring 46 which may be formed from a laminated phenolic resin. As shown, the forward or high pressure face of the piston head 41 is formed with a circular recess 47 from which there extends rearwardly the frustrum of a cone feed surface 48. The feed surface 48 merges with an axial orifice 49 formed in the piston head 41.

To provide a hydraulic fluid flow balance during the return travel of the cushion unit from the extended to the contracted position, the piston head is formed with a plurality of angularly spaced orifices 51 extending through the circular recesses and the inboard face of the piston head 41. Seated within the circular recesses 47 and overlying the orifices 51 is an annular valve member 61 which is slidably disposed for movement toward and away from the openings in response to fluid pressure forces in the low pressure chamber during the return stroke movement. Limiting movement outwardly of the recess 47 is a snap ring 53.

Fixed to the opposite face of the piston head 41 is a tubular piston rod 42 having a bore 56 which is coaxially disposed relative to the piston head orifice 49. The tubular piston rod 42 is fixed at its other end to the return spring arrangement 27, as more fully to be explained hereinafter. Adjacent the piston head 41 the piston rod 42 is formed with an array of ports 57 which provide fluid communication between the piston rod bore 56 and the low pressure chamber 32.

Limiting the extended or neutral position of the cushion device is a stop ring 58 which is fixed as by welding to the outer circumference of the piston rod 42.

Fastened to the base plate 36 and coaxially extending through the piston head orifice 49 is the metering pin 34 which serves to control the ow from the high pressure chamber 31 to the low pressure chamber 44. Preferably the flow between the high and low pressure chambers 31 and 32 is such as to impart substantially constant force travel characteristics to the cushion unit 26 during the contraction from the extended to the compressed positions as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. To this end, lengthwise extending utes 59 are formed along the periphery of the metering pin 17 to vary the effective area of the orifice 49 through which the hydraulic fluid flows during contraction. The fiutes 59 are formed to cooperate within the piston head 49 to maintain the uid pressure forces substantially constant between the high pressure chamber 31 upon relative movement of the piston head 41 and the cylinder 2S by varying the effective orifice area to the opening 49 in accordance with the total cross sectional area of the flutes 59 encompassed by the orifice 49.

The liexible boot reservoir 33 may be formed from a suitable flexible and resilient material which is iiuid impervious, as for example, rubber, and is connected at one end to the intermediate cylinder head 38 by suitable means such as a hose clamp. At its other end, the boot 33 is reversely folded and is clamped to the outer periphery of the piston rod 42, also, as for example, by a hose clamp. As shown, for example, in FIG. l in the extended or neutral position of the hydraulic cushion device, the boot reservoir 33 is substantially devoid of hydraulic iiuid but in the contracted position it is expanded and infiated by a portion of the hydraulic fluid displaced by the piston rod 42 during contraction thereof, as more fully to be explained hereinafter. It is to be noted that the flow of the displaced hydraulic fiuid received within the boot 33 is such that the latter is not expanded or extended outwardly of the end of the cylinder 28.

The return spring arrangement 27 comprises generally a guiding assembly 60, a follower assembly 62, and a return spring 63. The guiding assembly as shown in the ernbodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 10 includes an elongated guiding tube 64 to one end of which there is fixed a pair of transversely spaced sub-follower plates 66-66 which are slidably supported on a detachable base plate 22a of the cushion pocket 22. The guiding cylinder or tube 64 is slidably disposed over the cushion device cylinder and abuts at its free end against the follower plate 36.

Slidably disposed within the guiding cylinder 64 for lengthwise movement is guide plate 67 to which is fixed the piston rod 42. On the opposite face, as shown in FIG. 10 there is formed a boss 68 of substantially tongue shaped section which receives one end of a follower rod 71 formed with a complementary cut-out section 69 and which detachably connects a follower rod 71 to the guide plate 67 and thereby the piston rod 42.

Another embodiment of the detachable connection is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 wherein the guide plate 67 is formed with a boss 72 having a vertically disposed T- shaped slot 73. Detachably inserted into the T-slot 73 is a complementary T-shaped projection 74 formed on the end of the follower rod 71.

The opposite end of the follower rod 71 may be fixed as by welding within an opening 76 of a follower plate 77 which in the neutral position of the cushioning arrangement 12 and the sliding sill 11 and stationary center sill 10 abuts agains-t the :stops 24-24 and key 25. Abutting the follower plate 77 is one end of the return spring 63 of which the other end `abuts against a retainer plate '78 slidably disposed on the follower rod 71. The retainer plate 78 is formed on the outer face with a recess 79 which in the neutral position receives a stop ring 80 fixed to the follower rod 71 and which serves to limit the extension of the cushion device 26 and return spring arrangement 27 in the neutral position.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 6, there is shown a further embodiment for attaching a guiding assembly to the cylinder 28 of the cushion device 26. As shown, there is provided a guiding cylinder 83 which terminates at one end in slightly overlying relationship with the open end of the cushion unit cylinder 28. Fixed in angularly spaced relationship to the end of the guiding cylinder 83 are upstanding lugs 84 which abut against an upstanding rim 86 fixed to the cushion device cylinder 28. The lugs 84 and rim 86 may be suitably reinforced by bracing gussets 87 and 88, respectively. Extruding through the complementary lugs 84 and 86 for fastening the cushion unit cylinder 28 'and the guiding cylinder 83 together are bolts 89 fixed to the left end of the guiding cylinder 83 and the laterally spaced sub-follower plates 66.

A further embodiment for attaching the guiding cylinder 83 to the hydraulic cylinder 28 is illustrated in FIGS. 7-9 to which reference is made. To this end the lugs 84 and rim 86, gussets 87 and 88, and bolts 89 are eliminated and -a base plate 90 having an axial opening 91 is fixed as by welding to the circumference of the hydraulic cylinder 28 somewhat inwardly of the open end thereof. Projecting longitudinally inwardly from the base plate 90 are angularly spaced retaining lugs 92 which serve to maintain the free end of the guiding cylinder 83 overlying the hydraulic cylinder 26. As in the prior embodiments, the sub-follower plates 66-66 are attached to the end of the guiding cylinder 89.

The cushioning arrangement 12 is assembled exteriorly of the cushion pocket 22 with the guiding cylinders 64 or 83 assembled on the hydraulic cylinder 28 of the cushion device 26. The hydraulic cushion device 26 with the guid- 'ing cylinders 64 or -83 assembled thereon may then be inserted into the cushion pocket. Thereafter, the return spring 63 disposed about t-he follower rod 71 between the follower plate 77 and the retainer plate 78 may be associated with the cushion device 22 by way of attachment of the follower rod 71 to the sub-follower plate `67. This attachment may be achieved by insertion of the cut-Out 69 end on the follower rod 71 over the boss 68 `as shown in FIG. 10 or the insertion of the T-section projection 74 into the T-slot 73 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In this manner the return spring 63 disposed about the follower rod 71 is operatively connected to the piston rod 42 and piston head 43.

In operation, assuming a buff impact on the right end of the sliding sill 11 the latter moves lengthwise relatively to the stationary sill 10 so that the key 25 abutting the follower plate 89 compresses the return spring 63 against the sub-follower plates 66 by way of the retainer plate 78 engaging the opposite end of the spring 63. At the same time the follower rod 71 is depressed inwardly so that the piston rod 42 and piston head 41 iixed thereto are moved inwardly to the fully contracted position shown in FIG. 2. It, of course, being understood that the cushion unit 26 is held stationary relative to the sliding Sill 11 by its engagement with the stationary stop lugs 23-23 at the left end so that the spring 63 is compressed and the piston head 4l and cylinder 28 are contracted relative to each other.

Impact in the opposite or left direction causes the left key member to compress and contract the cushion device and return spring 63 in an opposite direction from that described above in connection with the right end impact. During this contraction, the left key member 25 xed to the sliding sill 11 and abutting the follower plate 36 causes the cylinder 26 to move to the right and carrying therewith the guiding cylinder 64. Thus the sub-follower plates abutting against the retainer plate 78 causes the latter t-o slide along the follower rod 71 and thereby cornpress the spring 63 against the follower plate 77 which is held stationary -by the abutting engagement with the stationary sill stops 24. It is also to be observed that the piston rod 42 and the piston head 41 remain stationaryv during this movement causing the cylinder 26 and the fluid displacement means 29 to contract relative to each other.

Upon contraction of the cushion device 26, the piston head 41 is operative to displace hydraulic iiuid from the high chamber 31 to the low pressure chamber 32 via the piston head orifice 49, piston rod bore 56 and ports 57. At the same time the fluid in the low pressure chamber 32 displaced by the piston rod 42 moving therein is received by the boot reservoir 33.

Upon dissipation of the kinetic energy of the impact, the return spring 63, as is readily apparent, is operative to return the cylinder 28 and the fluid displacement means to the neutral position shown in FIG. 1.

Wh-at is claimed is:

l. In a hydraulic cushion device comprising a cylinder, a fluid displacement means reciprocable with said cylinder between an extended and contracted position, said fluid displacement means including a piston rod extending outwardly from one end of said cylinder, the improvement comprising a guiding means mounted on said cylinder, means connected to said piston rod and guided within said guiding means for reciprocating movement therein, a follower rod detachably connected at one end to said guided means, a follower means connected to the other end of said follower rod, spring means disposed about said follower -rod and engaging said follower means at one end thereof, means slidable on said follower rod for retaining said spring means on said -rod and engaging the other end of said spring, and means iixed on said guiding means engageable with said retaining means for compressing said spring during relative contraction of said cylinder and said iiuid displacement means.

2. In a hydraulic cushion device comprising a cylinder, a fluid displacement means reciprocable with said cylinder between an extended and contracted position, said fluid displacement means including a piston rod extending outwardly from one end of said cylinder, the irnprovement comprising a guiding tube mounted on said cylinder, means ixed to said piston rod and guided within said tubing tube for reciprocating movement therein, a follower rod detachably connected lat one end to said guided means, follower means connected to the other end of said follower rod, spring means disposed about said follower rod and engaging said follower means at one end thereof, means slidable on said follower rod retaining said spring means on said rod and engaging the other end of said spring, Iand means iixed on said guiding tube engageable with said retaining means for compressing said spring during relative contraction of said cylinder and said fluid displacement means.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said piston rod connected means includes a boss formed so as to provide a component of said detachable connecting means, and said follower rod includes means complementary to said component.

4. The invention as deined in' claim 3 wherein sait means fixed on said guiding cylinder -is formed with a pai1 of transversely spaced plates adapted to span said bose whereby said complementary means may ybe attached tc said component formed on said boss.

5. The invention' as defined in claim 2 wherein Saic quiding cylinder is formed to be slidably mounted .on saic' hydraulic cushion cylinder.

6. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein saic guiding cylinder is ixedly secured to said hydrauli cushion cylinder.

No references cited.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

R. M. WOHLFARTH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A HYDRAULIC CUSHION DEVICE COMPRISING A CYLINDER, FLUID DISPLACEMENT MEANS RECIPROCABLE WITH SAID CYLINDER BETWEEN AN EXTENDED AND CONTRACTED POSITION, SAID FLUID DISPLACEMENT MEANS INCLUDING A PISTON ROD EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM ONE END OF SAID CYLINDER, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A GUIDING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CYLINDER, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PISTON ROD AND GUIDED WITHIN SAID GUIDING MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT THEREIN, A FOLLOWER ROD DETACHABLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID GUIDED MEANS, A FOLLOWER MEANS CONNECTED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID FOLLOWER ROD, SPRING MEANS DISPOSED ABOUT SAID FOLLOWER ROD AND ENGAGING SAID FOLLOWER MEANS AT ONE END THEREOF, MEANS SLIDABLE ON SAID FOLLOWER MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID SPRING MEANS ON SAID ROD AND ENGAGING THE OTHER END OF SAID SPRING, AND MEANS FIXED ON SAID GUIDING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID RETAINING MEANS FOR COMPRESSING SAID SPRING DURING RELATIVE CONTRACTION OF SAID CYLINDER AND SAID FLUID DISPLACEMENT MEANS. 